Manufacturing plants to produce methanol fuel based stoves will be set up in Assam and Bengaluru. Besides, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have also been identified as future methanol stove manufacturing sites

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New Delhi: The central policy think tank, National Institution for Transforming India (Niti) Aayog, has prepared a plan to adopt Methanol as the preferred cooking and commercial fuel in an attempt to cut huge import bill and check worsening pollution. Methanol is considered to be a clean fuel and will trim down dependence on imported gas too, the Economic Times reported citing people aware of the development.

The report mentioned that manufacturing units to produce methanol fuel based stoves will be set up in Bengaluru and Assam. Besides, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have also been identified as future methanol stove manufacturing sites. It is worth mentioning here is that the know-how for manufacturing methanol cooking stoves has been obtained from Sweden. Larger stoves for commercial use will be imported till technology is developed locally.

Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers and Assam Petrochemicals are the companies involved in methanol production in India. Methanol cooking fuel will be available in canisters of 1.2 kg, to be priced at Rs 32. Around 18 canisters would be equivalent to a domestic LPG cylinder.

The publication quoted an unidentified senior government official as saying, “After Assam, we are eyeing Uttar Pradesh and then Maharashtra to provide such stoves in households. Simultaneously, we have tied up with some hotels in Bengaluru to use methanol stoves.” He went on add that the Centre is eyeing big temples, gurdwaras and ashrams where cooking is done daily on a large-scale basis.

The Bengaluru unit will be set up by a private player while the one in Assam may be government-owned, the official told the daily.

Niti Aayog is leaving no stone unturned to promote adoption of methanol as cooking as well as transportation fuel, and even partial use of methanol can be brought down India’s import bill by USD 100 billion and pollution 40 per cent.

Unlike the present cooking fuel, which is used in liquefied gas form, methanol fuel will available in vapour form. At present, India’s LPG consumption stands at nearly 2 million tonnes per month and it has gone up over the past few years primarily due to increased LPG penetration under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

Niti Aayog for methanol as cooking fuel to cut import bill by USD 100 billionDescription:Manufacturing plants to produce methanol fuel based stoves will be set up in Assam and Bengaluru. Besides, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have also been identified as future methanol stove manufacturing sitesTimes Now